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BASS and NOAA K-band radars are used for simultaneous observations of cirrus clouds as part of climate and global change research program ( Palmer et al. 1993; Matrosov et al. 1993) |
Broadband Array Spectrograph System (BASS)
The broadband array spectrograph system (BASS) is an infrared array prism spectrograph that covers the entire 2.9-13.5 micron spectral region simultaneously at a resolving power of 25-120, depending on wavelength.This liquid helium-cooled instrument uses two 58-element Blocked Impurity Band (BIB) linear arrays. End-to-end system performance (chopped) is NEP of 2x10 -14 W Hz -1/2 at 10 microns and around 3 x 10 14 W Hz -l/2 at 4.8 microns. The circular entrance aperture is 2 mm in diameter. BASS can be configured for either f/15 or f/30 use. An example of the data produced by BASS is shown in the Hale-Bopp spectra below.
BASS is regularly used at NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) at Mauna Kea and the Mount Lemmon Observing Facility (MLOF) near Tucson. It has also been flown on NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) and the USAF's Flying Infrared Signature Technology Aircraft (FISTA) . BASS can also be used without a telescope using the f beam as a nonimaging collector. BASS has been used for astronomical, atmospheric, and laboratory measurements.
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Color picture of Hale-Bopp. The blue ion tail shines by molecular fluorescence and the brighter yellow-white dust tail shines by reflected sunlight. Photo by David K. Lynch and David Gutierrez April 5, 1997, 5-minute exposure f/1.7 85 mm lens on ISO 400 film, Frazer Peak, CA. |
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Spectrum of Hale Bopp. The spectrum shows structured silicate emission characteristic of amorphous and crystalline silicates, namely olivine and pyroxene (See Hanner et al. 1999) |
